Life
Antoinette Tuff – a hero that helped avert tragedy in standoff
Tuff begins by telling Hill of her own struggles, including raising a disabled child and losing her husband. The bookkeeper reassures him by saying he didn’t hurt anyone, hadn’t harmed her and could still surrender peacefully.
“We’re not gonna hate you, baby. It’s a good thing that you’re giving up,” Tuff says after having Hill put his weapons and ammunition on the counter. Tuff tells Hill she loves him and will pray for him.
Before he surrendered, Tuff took to the school’s public address system to say Hill was sorry for what he’d done and didn’t want to hurt anyone — although the lockdown remained in effect.
Hill is charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, terrorist threats and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Police declined to discuss what he told them when questioned.
The DeKalb County Public Defender’s office said in a statement that it was representing Hill, calling him “a young man with a long history of mental health issues.”
“Mr. Hill is being represented by members of our Mental Health Division and he has decided to waive his first appearance today,” the statement said. “We are all very thankful that no one was hurt in this incident and that all of the children are safe.”
Law enforcement officers praised Tuff for helping to avert a potential tragedy.
